new forum possible?

[bdog]

I recently posted about a "get paid while you surf via advertisements" program that I later learned was inappropriate in Sysopt. I understand this now, and that the forums should be devoted to PC's and helping others as their titles describe. However sometimes myself and others occasionaly come across things that in our opinions are good deals, and we want to share them with other Sysopt members. Would it be possible to create a forum for things of this nature so that the other forums don't get clogged, and people that don't want to see it don't have to? I know that there are a lot of get-rich-quick scams and other fraudelent schemes out there such as making $200000 in a week etc, and I am not suggesting we host these types of things, but some things are actually good deals such as the Value America valuedollars deal. Everyone seems to like that, and yet they offer incintives for members to sign up new members. The program I posted about enabled you to earn around ten bucks a month for having a bar of advertisements on the bottom of your screen for 25 hours. You can also earn a small 1-2 dollar amount for signing up new people if they "watch" the ad's for 25 hours. This is a reasonable isn't it ? It is not to good to be true. Advertisers are paying them, and they are paying you. I don't want to talk more about it, as it is currently inappropriate here. I also am not posting the url for it as I am not trying to promote it here. I just was wanting some input on this.I think Sysopt is by far the best BBS and I will always come here for info on PC's, but if a forum like this is never going to happen at Sysopt, can someone point me somewhere where I could go occasionaly to check out legit programs /money savers of this nature?

[This message has been edited by bdog (edited 09-22-99).]

[Joel Kleppinger]

Let me explain the problems with those ad referral deals and the difference between them and stuff like the recent Value America deal.

With ad referrals, from what I'm aware, NO current company (GotoWorld and Alladvantage are the only two I can think of offhand) has ever sent out checks such that anyone I know of has received them. I frequent several different boards, forums, and BBSs, and there are usually one or two that say they got their checks, but then there will be a hundred or more that are still waiting. Seems somewhat suspicious of them only to have mailed checks to two people out of a hundred users.

But even if we didn't allow that to add some suspicion, the simple fact remains that users would always compete for who should have the link to whateveradsite.com.. and very few are honorable enough to say "Yeah, this is a referral deal... if you don't want to do it through me, then you can go to the site directly." The problem is, so many users just ignore that.

And then, when the next nut comes along who has an account at the same place, he puts up his link and says "Use this one - it's better than xxxx's link." This can continue on for quite a while, confusing anyone looking at it until they understood what the link entailed, and then likely developing quite a disdain for all those that tried the "This link is the best" approach. There'll also be a tendency to fire up new threads about the same topic so late-comers still have a chance at using their link.

It's the simple fact that right now these companies are borderline at best. There isn't enough info about them, and none of them have a track record because the idea is so new. Regardless, because of all the abuses and underhanded methods which people invariably resort to, such posts are best left off SysOpt.com at this time.

---------Skip here for the difference between gotoworld.com and Value America. /forum/smile.gif ---------

As you may have noticed, there have been certain deals, like PlanetRX, where the person gets free stuff, but is also given a referral link to get more free stuff by if other people use it. Since this is a promotion by a known vendor (I got my goods from them so I should know /forum/smile.gif), it goes under the "legitimate deal" category. It can still suffer from the same "Use this link" user abuse, but we will likely approach that abuse differently than with the GotoWorld abuse.

However, Value America has NO SUCH REFERRAL PROGRAM. It is a legitimate deal from a legitimate vendor (got my ATI All In Wonder 128 today and am currently using it on this machine) that should be spread like wildfire until the 30th when the deal runs out. Other deals like this and PlanetRX DEFINTELY have a place in the PC Steals and Deals forum, even tho some may not particularly PC in origin.

Hopefully, you can understand a bit more why we have disdain for such companies as AllAdvantage - simply because, by nature, it recommends user-started spam rather than spam from the company, keeping their name "clear." However, there is a clear distinction between this and real deals where you do get free stuff and great prices on junk.

In short, it's best not to use referral links, but should you or anyone else post a link that has that person's own referral link, have the decency to say it refers to you and whoever can use it if they want, or just go to the site for the same deal. At least then the poster can be treated with some amount respect, rather than just a someone trying to make money at someone elses expense or even knowledge.

[Missing the point]

Just to let you know, I got my check today for Alladvantage, for 37.49, and thats with no refferall's. I think you should let people see this, and it is still their decsion if they want to join alladvantage or not. I suggest they do, because it is a fair company, and you ctually do get your checks!

[SysOpt]

How long did it take you to accrue the $37?

[Eli]

I don't think there's a problem posting about those companies and their banners as lnog as you don't use it as an opportunity to get referrals. I've posted about them before without my referal number anywhere to be found and there were no complaints. Would anyone care if someone put their Alladvantage referal link as their homepage in their profile though?

[PCnerd]

To refer people, I use links to companies as a signature in my outgoing e-mails. But remember that Alladvantage is nothing in comparison to the company I've signed up for!!!!

http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gifI hope, I don't get banned for this post. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by PCnerd (edited 03-08-2000).]

[Missing the point]

Editor-in-chief:

It took me about 3 months, but I didn't us the browser for about 1 month, because I got my computer updated to win98, and the version I had was not compatible. I never knwe that they came out with one for win 98 until recently.